Weight-Based Cushion-Adjusting Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A treadmill includes a base, a lever, an elevator, a cushion, a scale and an adjustor. The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushion is connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at another end. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a treadmill and, more particularly, toa treadmill equipped with an apparatus for adjusting a cushion based onthe weight of a user.

2. Related Prior Art

As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent 1323669, a conventional treadmillincludes a base, a control panel supported on the base, two rollerssupported on the base, a platform supported on the base between therollers, a belt in the form of a loop wound around the rollers and theplatform, an acceleration sensor located beneath the platform andelectrically connected to the control panel, and an adjustable cushionlocated beneath the platform and electrically connected to theacceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor senses actual accelerationof the platform and sends a signal to the control panel. The controlpanel compares the actual acceleration with data related to speed,acceleration and weight recorded in a memory located therein. Whenactual acceleration is determined to be identical to the data, theadjustable cushion is not adjusted. Only when the actual acceleration isdetermined to be different from the data, the adjustable cushion isadjusted.

However, it is practically impossible for an exerciser to maintainconstant acceleration no matter he or she is running or walking. Hence,the adjustable cushion is adjusted all the time. The frequent adjustmentis a heavy load on the adjustable cushion. Therefore, the life of theadjustable cushion is short, and this is not desirable.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a treadmill witha cushion that is adjustable based on the weight of a user.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the treadmill includes a base, alever, an elevator, a scale and an adjustor in addition to the cushion.The lever is connected to the base. The elevator is connected to thelever at an end and supported on the ground at another end. The cushionis connected to the base at an end and connected to the lever at anotherend. The scale is supported on the base. The adjustor is electricallyconnected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts the cushion based onthe weight of a user measured by the scale.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description referring to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of thepreferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric treadmill equipped with acushion that is adjustable based on the weight of a user according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scale provided on the electrictreadmill shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cushion used in the electric treadmillshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting the cushionshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an elevator and the cushion shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the elevator and cushion in another positionthan shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the cushion based onthe weight of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an electric treadmill 10 equippedwith a cushion 40 that is adjustable based on the weight of a useraccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Theelectric treadmill 10 includes a base 11, a control panel 12 supportedon the base 11, front and rear rollers 16 supported on the base 11, aplatform 15 supported on the base 11 between the front and rear rollers16, a belt 17 in the form of a loop wound around the platform 15 and thefront and rear rollers 16, and a board 18 supported on the base 11. Thebase 11 is in the form of a frame including two longitudinal barsextending between two crossbars. The base 11 includes a front end 13 anda rear end 14. The control panel 12 and the board 18 are located nearthe front end 13 of the base 11. The front roller 16 is located near thefront end 13 of the base 11 while the rear roller 16 is located near therear end 14 of the base 11.

The treadmill 10 further includes a motor 24 supported on the board 18,a small pulley connected to the mandrel of the motor 24, a large pulley26 connected to the front roller 16, and a belt 25 in the form of a loopwound around the small pulley and the large pulley 26. The motor 24 iselectrically connected to the control panel 12. Thus, the control panel12 is operable to actuate the motor 24 to drive the large pulley 26through the belt 25. Then, the large pulley 26 drives the front roller16, and the front roller 16 drives the belt 17.

Referring to FIG. 3, the treadmill 10 further includes an elevator 60for elevating the base 11. In specific, the elevator 60 is operable topivot the base 11 relative to the ground or a floor. The elevator 60includes a strut 19 pivotally connected to the base 11, a motor 61, andan extensible unit 62 connected to the strut 19 at an end and connectedto the motor 61 through a transmission (not shown) at another end. Indetail, the unit 62 includes a screw pivotally connected to the strut 19and a sleeve including a screw hole for receiving the screw. The sleeveis connected to the motor 61 through the transmission. The motor 61 iselectrically connected to the control panel 12. Thus, the control panel12 is operable to actuate the motor 61 to rotate the sleeve around thescrew, thus extending or shrinking the extensible unit 62 to pivot thestrut 19 further from or closer to the base 11. Hence, the base 11 ispivoted relative to the ground or floor about the second end 14 of thebase 11.

The treadmill 10 further includes two S-shaped levers 50 extendingparallel to each other. Each of the levers 50 includes an end pivotallyconnected to the base 11 and another end pivotally connected to aportion of the elevator 60.

The cushion 40 includes a cylinder 41, a plunger 43 and a spring 45. Thecylinder 41 includes a closed end pivotally connected to a middlesection of each of the levers 50 and an open end for receiving an end ofthe plunger 43. Another end of the plunger 43 is pivotally connected tothe base 11. A ring 42 is formed on the cylinder 41 near the open end.Another ring 44 is formed on the plunger 43. The spring 45 is locatedaround the plunger 43 and compressed between the rings 42 and 44. Asdescribed above, the cushion 40 is connected to the base 11, the levers50 are connected to the cushion 40, the elevator 60 is connected to thelevers 50, and the strut 19 is connected to the base 11 at an end andlocated on the ground or floor at another end. Thus, the cushion 40 isoperable to provide cushion for the treadmill 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control panel 12 is operable to actuatethe motor 61 to drive the extensible unit 62 through the transmission.Thus, the length of the extensible unit 62 is changed. Hence, the strut19 is pivoted away from or closer to the base 11. That is, the base 11is lifted or lowered.

Referring to FIG. 4, the treadmill further includes an adjustor foradjusting the cushion 40. The adjustor includes a motor 30, a sleeve 32,a transmission 33, a valve 34, a mount 35, a pipe 36 and a reservoir 37.The motor 30 includes a mandrel 31. The motor 30 is supported on theboard 18. The motor 30 is electrically connected to the control panel12. The sleeve 32 is provided on the mandrel 31. The transmission 33 isprovided between the sleeve 32 and the valve 34. The valve 34 isconnected to the reservoir 37. An inlet and outlet of the reservoir 37is controlled by the valve 34. The reservoir 37 is supported on themount 35. The mount 35 is supported on the board 18. The mount 35 isM-shaped. The pipe 36 includes an end connected to the valve 34 andanother end connected to the cylinder 41. A hydraulic medium such ascushion oil is circulated in a loop formed by the reservoir 37, thevalve 34, the pipe 36 and the cylinder 41.

Referring to FIG. 2, the treadmill 10 further includes two scales eachsupported on a related one of the longitudinal bars of the base 11. Eachof the scales includes a tread 20, a sensor 21 provided between thetread 20 and the related longitudinal bar of the base 11, and a signalcalculator 22 supported on the related longitudinal bar of the base 11.The signal calculator 22 is electrically connected to the sensor 21 atan end and electrically connected to the control panel 12 at anotherend.

Referring to FIG. 7, the adjustment of the cushion 40 based on theweight of the user will be described. At 70, the adjustment isinitiated. At 71, the cushion 40 is returned to an original position. At72, a screen is shown on the control panel 12. The screen may include areminder of an acceptable range of the weight of the user. For example,the acceptable range of the weight of the user may be 20 to 250kilograms. At 73, the user stands on the scales. The weight of the useris measured by the scales. The process goes to 75 if the weight of theuser is acceptable and goes to 74 if not. At 74, a warning is shown onthe control panel 12 to instruct the user to send for an engineer torepair the treadmill 10. At 75, the weight of the user, in kilogram orpound, is shown on the control panel 12. At 76, the user operates thecontrol panel 12 to select “Retest” or “OK.” The process goes to 77 if“OK” is selected and returns to 72 if “Retest” is selected. At 77, underthe control of the control panel 12, the cushion 40 is automaticallyadjusted based on the weight of the user.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustrationof the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derivevariations from the preferred embodiment without departing from thescope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodimentshall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in theclaims.

1. A treadmill including: a base; a lever connected to the base; anelevator connected to the lever at an end and supported on the ground atanother end; a cushion connected to the base at an end and connected tothe lever at another end; a scale supported on the base; and an adjustorelectrically connected to the scale so that the adjustor adjusts thecushion based on the weight of a user measured by the scale.
 2. Thetreadmill according to claim 1, wherein the scale includes: a tread; anda sensor provided between the tread and the base.
 3. The treadmillaccording to claim 2, wherein the scale includes a signal calculatorelectrically connected to the sensor.
 4. The treadmill according toclaim 1, wherein the cushion includes: a cylinder including a closed endpivotally connected to the lever and an open end; and a plunger insertedin the open end of the cylinder at an end and pivotally connected to thebase at another end.
 5. The treadmill according to claim 4, wherein thecushion further includes: a ring formed on the cylinder; another ringformed on the plunger; and a spring located around the plunger andcompressed between the rings.
 6. The treadmill according to claim 4,wherein the adjustor includes: a reservoir supported on the base; avalve connected to the reservoir; and a pipe connected to the valve atan end and connected to the cylinder at another end so that thecylinder, the reservoir, the valve and the pipe form a loop in which ahydraulic medium is circulated under the control of the valve.
 7. Thetreadmill according to claim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes amotor operable for driving the valve.
 8. The treadmill according toclaim 6, wherein the adjustor further includes a mount for supportingthe reservoir on the base.